SONGS  and  SONNETS 

From  Appledore 

by 


Oscar  Laighton 


“of  library  Champaign-u,^ 


Vk 


/ 


VIEW  FROM  MRS.  THAXTER'S  GARDEN  GATE 


SONGS 

FROM  APPLEDORE 


BY 

OSCAR  LAIGHTON 


WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS 


wmmmmm  upwlidrarv 
tfUOQIHIIimuiJ.IL  bT7072Hy^ 

MDCCCCXVI 


COPYRIGHT,  1899  AND  1916,  BY  OSCAR  LAIGHTON 


ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED 


These  sweet  poems  and  rare  illustrations  of 
Appledore  Island  and  the  Laighton  family  were 
found  recently  in  the  storehouse  of  Houghton 
Mifflin  Company. 

The  pages  still  hold  interest  to  the  many 
lovers  of  the  Isles  of  Shoals  and  they  have 
been  hound  in  loving  memory  of  “Uncle  Oscar” 
by  his  heirs. 


Rosamond  Tliaxter 

Champernowne  Farm 
Kittery  Point . Maine 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
, in  2017  with  funding  from 
University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/songsfromappledo00laig_0 


PREFACE 


SINCE  sleep  sails  far  away  when  the 
heart  is  full  of  such  sweet  longing,  I 
will  venture  to  write  you,  dear,  while  the 
dew  is  yet  falling  and  only  the  first  rays  of 
the  dawn  dare  look  with  rosy  light  in  your 
sacred  window. 

The  Islands  are  still  sleeping  in  the  em- 
brace of  the  quiet  Ocean,  though  the  glory 
of  the  uprushing  Sun  begins  to  gild  the 
eastern  cliffs  of  Appledore  with  ineffable 
splendor,  and  paint  the  sea  and  sky  in  ever 
changing  shades  of  celestial  color! 

Oh,  the  radiant  happiness  that  comes 
with  the  advancing  day  ! Wild  roses  fill  the 
enchanted  air  with  delicate  fragrance,  and 
the  sparrows  sing  as  if  they  had  but  one 
moment  in  which  to  crowd  the  whole  rap- 
ture of  the  morning ! 

Here,  where  the  sea  encircles  the  wave- 
3 


PREFACE 


washed  shore  like  a caressing  hand,  and  the 
murmur  of  the  water  reaches  me  with  almost 
the  sweetness  of  your  dear  voice,  I will  tell 
you  how  much  I love  you. 

4 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Song  : “ Behold l this  pearly  glow  of  dawn  " ...  9 

Song  : “ Sweet  wind  that  blows  o'er  sunny  Isles  " . 1 1 

Song  : “ Warm  blows  the  south  wind  over  A ppledore " 1 3 
Song  : “ The  clover  blosso?ns  kiss  her  feet " ...  15 

At  Sunset 17 

Her  Shawl - . 21 

To  Mary 23 

Song:  “ A storm  is  gathering  in  the  air  " ...  25 

Alice  Pierrepont 27 

Southern  Song 29 

Song  : “ The  evening's  splendor  lights  her  face"  . 31 

A Song  of  Spring 33 

Song:  “ Listen,  my  sweet,  the  robins  call"  . 35 

Southern  Song 37 

Song:  “ Will  you  love  me,  Mary  dear  ? " ....  39 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


View  from  Mrs.  Thaxter’s  Garden  Gate 

Frontispiece. 

A Sloop  Yacht. 

White  Island,  looking  Southwest  from  Apple- 
dore. 

Trap  Dike,  Appledore. 

Rocks  at  Appledore. 

Appledore  House,  built  in  1848. 

Yacht  Twilight. 

Star  Island  and  the  “Oceanic”  from  Appledore. 
Tuck  Monument,  Star  Island. 

The  Old  Church  on  Star  Island. 

Celia  Thaxter’s  Cottage. 

A Corner  of  Mrs.  Thaxter’s  Parlor. 

View  from  the  Southeastern  Point  of  Apple- 
dore. 

The  Landing  at  Appledore. 

White  Island. 

Stoneface,  Star  Island. 

Miss  Underhill’s  Chair,  Star  Island. 


7 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Mrs.  Thaxter’s  Parlor. 

The  Children’s  Pond  at  Appledore. 
Hauling  up  the  Boats  for  the  Winter. 
Oscar  Laighton. 

Honeymoon  Cottage. 

Celia  Thaxter. 

Cedric  Laighton. 

In  the  Twilight. 

Landing  at  Appledore. 

Appledore. 

Isles  of  Spioals  Coast  Guard. 

Mary,  Cedric  Laigiiton’s  Grandchild. 

8 


White  Island,  looking  Southwest  from  Appledore. 


SONG 


Behold  ! this  pearly  glow  of  dawn 

Dims  all  the  star-gemmed  fields  of  night, 

Curtains  of  darkness  are  withdrawn, 

And  sunrise  paints  the  clouds  with  light ! 

Awake!  the  morning  greets  the  world 
With  radiant  sunshine  on  the  deep! 

While  ships  go  by  with  sails  unfurled 
Are  thy  dear  eyes  still  closed  in  sleep? 

These  rays  that  on  thy  windows  shine 
Carry  my  steadfast  hope  afar 

To  sweeter  days,  when  thou  art  mine, 

Soft  nightfall,  and  the  evening  star! 

9 


Trap  Dike,  Appledore. 


ROCKS  AT  APPLEDORE 


APPLEDORE  HOUSE,  BUILT  IN 


SONG 


Sweet  wind  that  blows  o’er  sunny  Isles 
The  softness  of.  the  sea, 

Blow  thou  across  these  moving  miles 
News  of  my  love  to  me. 

Ripples  her  hair  like  waves  that  sweep 
About  this  pleasant  shore ; 

Her  eyes  are  bluer  than  the  deep 
Round  rocky  Appledore. 

Her  sweet  breast  shames  the  scattered  spray 
Soft  kissed  by  early  light  : 

I dream  she  is  the  dawn  of  day 
That  lifts  me  out  of  night ! 

n 


YACHT  TWILIGHT 


STAR  ISLAND  AND  THE  “OCEANIC”  FROM  APPLEDORE 


SONG 


Warm  blows  the  south  wind  over  Apple- 
dore ! 

The  northern  gales  that  whirled  the 
winter  main 

In  leagues  of  foam,  rage  round  these  Isles 
no  more  ; 

Through  melting  haze  summer  drifts 
north  again. 

And  thou  art  here  — O,  radiant  is  the  day  ! 

The  clover  blooms,  our  lonely  Isles  grow 
fair, 

Soft  sunshine  falls  across  the  slumbering 
bay, 

The  sparrow’s  song  fills  the  enchanted  air. 

Sweet,  when  you  turn  your  lovely  eyes  on 
me 

I feel  the  winter’s  sorrow  disappear, 

As  dawn  divine  makes  glad  a storm-swept 
sea ! 

You  are  my  Sun,  my  Song,  my  Summer, 
Dear. 


3 


TUCK  MONUMENT,  STAR  ISLAND 


THE  OLD  CHURCH  ON  STAR  ISLAND 


SONG 


The  clover  blossoms  kiss  her  feet, 

She  is  so  sweet. 

While  I,  who  may  not  kiss  her  hand, 
Bless  all  the  wild  flowers  in  the  land. 

Soft  sunshine  falls  across  her  breast, 

She  is  so  blest. 

I ’m  jealous  of  its  arms  of  gold, 

O,  that  these  arms  her  form  might  fold  ! 

Gently  the  breezes  kiss  her  hair, 

She  is  so  fair. 

Let  flowers  and  sun  and  breeze  go  by,  — 
O dearest ! love  me,  or  I die. 

i5 


CELIA  THAXTER’S  COTTAGE 


A CORNER  OF  MRS.  THAXTER’S  PARLOR 


AT  SUNSET 


Come  thou  with  me,  dear  love,  and  see  the 
day 

Die  on  the  sea,  and  o’er  the  distant  land 

This  last  faint  glow  of  twilight  fade  away, 
The  while  I hold  in  mine  thy  gentle  hand. 

The  lessening  light  gleams  on  yon  leaning 
sail ; 

Slowly  the  sun  has  sunk  beyond  the  hill, 

And  sombre  night  in  silence  draws  her  veil 
Over  us  two,  and  everything  grows  still, 

Save  when  the  tide,  with  constant  ebb  and 
flow 

Of  wandering  waves  that  greet  the  stead- 
fast shore 

Flashes  fair  forms  of  foam  that  falling  throw 
Their  arms  of  snow  round  lovely  Apple- 
dor  e. 


7 


View  from  the  Southeastern  Point  of  Appledore. 


AT  SUNSET 


Faint,  like  a dream,  comes  the  melodious  cry 
Of  far-off  wild  fowl  calling  from  the  deep, 

The  rosy  color  leaves  the  western  sky, 

Over  the  waves  are  spread  the  wings  of 
sleep. 

Silent  a meteor  falls  into  the  night 

Sweeping  its  silver  shower  across  the 
stars  ; 

Low  down  Arcturus  sinks  with  waning  light, 
High  in  the  east  climbs  up  the  shining 
Mars. 

And  whispering  by  us  with  a silent  kiss 
Comes  the  sweet  south  wind  o’er  the 
slumbering  sea. 

Thou  dearest,  can  such  perfect  joy  as  this 
Be  always  mine,  to  drift  through  life  with 
thee  ? 


9 


THE  LANDING  AT  APPLEDORE 


HER  SHAWL 


Dearest,  where  art  thou  ? In  the  silent 
room 

I find  this  wonder  of  some  foreign  loom, 
Thy  silken  shawl,  whose  lines  of  loveliness 
The  matchless  beauty  of  thy  form  caress. 
Delicate  raiment,  shall  I dare  infold 
All  these  warm  kisses  mid  thy  threads  of 
gold  ? 

Oh,  hold  them  close  her  icy  heart  above, 
Melting  its  winter  into  summer’s  love ! 
Beneath  her  coldness  fonder  still  I grow, 

As  violets  bloom  along  the  edge  of  snow. 
Through  my  sad  heart  there  drifts  a hope 
divine, 

O’er  seas  storm-swept  shall  softer  mornings 
shine  ; 

So  love  may  dawn  for  me  while  at  thy  feet 
I wait,  and  kiss  thy  garment’s  hem,  my 
sweet. 


21 


White  Island. 


Stoneface,  Star  Island 


TO  MARY 


Sweet  are  these  flowers,  yet  Mary  is  more 
fair ; 

Shaded  with  goldenrod  her  sun-kissed  hair. 
I look  in  her  blue  eyes  and  can  forget 
The  Heaven  reflected  in  this  violet  — 

Or,  sweeter  still,  behold  the  lovely  grace 
Of  this  fair  dawn  of  roses  in  her  face 
Fresh  as  the  first  anemones  that  swing 
Their  tinted  petals  in  the  winds  of  Spring. 
O storms  of  life,  that  bend  us  all  like  reeds, 
Spare  this  dear  lily  blooming  o’er  the  weeds  ! 
O time,  that  all  her  unknown  future  holds, 
Make  soft  the  gales  while  this  sweet  bud 
unfolds, 

So  she  may  grow  like  wild  flowers  in  our 
land, 

Pure  as  these  blossoms  in  her  gentle  hand. 

23 


MISS  UNDERHILL’S  CHAIR,  STAR  ISLAND 


MRS.  THAXTER’S  PARLOR 


SONG 


A storm  is  gathering  in  the  air, 

The  gulls  fly  high  in  circles  wide, 
Deep  murmurs  usher  in  the  tide 
Foaming  o’er  rocks  all  brown  and  bare. 

These  precious  Isles  are  anchored  fast, 
Storm-swept  by  many  a northeast  gale 
That  rends  the  bolt  rope  from  the  sail, 
And  breaks  in  twain  the  groaning  mast! 

O love,  my  heart  is  like  the  sea, 

Surging  with  every  gale  that  blows, 
Longing  for  winds  that  bring  the  rose, 
The  happy  summer-time  and  thee. 

25 


THE  CHILDREN’S  POND  AT  APPLEDORE 


ALICE  PIERREPONT 


Above  her  grave  the  sparrow  sings 
With  radiant  joy,  summer  is  near, 

Fresh  hope  the  lovely  south  wind  brings 
Oh,  could  it  wake  you,  Alice,  dear ! 

Once  more  I see  her  matchless  grace 
Through  tears  I cannot  yet  restrain ; 
Dear  visions  of  her  blessed  face, 

I hear  her  gentle  voice  again  ! 

O memory  of  a woman  sweet, 

So  true,  so  beautiful  and  brave, 

Let  me  draw  near  with  reverent  feet 
And  lay  these  wild  flowers  on  thy  graves 
The  first  anemones  that  sway 
Their  blossoms  in  the  winds  of  May. 

27 


HAULING  UP  THE  BOATS  FOR  THE  WINTER 


OSCAR  LAICHTON 


HONEYMOON  COTTAGE 


SOUTHERN  SONG 


Sunlight  in  the  window  shines, 
Blue  jays  calling  from  the  pines, 
Mammy  must  be  up  betimes 
Working  for  her  baby. 

Dearest  must  not  stay  in  bed, 
Sun-kist  clouds  are  overhead, 
Banks  of  roses  blushing  red 
Waiting  for  my  baby. 

Soft  the  Southern  breezes  blow, 
Daddy’s  working  with  his  hoe, 
That  will  make  the  cotton  grow 
For  my  darling  baby. 

Harvest  time  will  soon  be  here, 
Drifted  snow  the  fields  appear, 
Mammy  ’ll  make  a dress  this  year 
For  her  little  baby. 

Blessed  Southland  calm  and  fair, 
Song  and  fragrance  fill  the  air 
With  enchantment  everywhere 
For  my  precious  baby. 

29 


CELIA  THAXTER 


CEDRIC  LAIGHTON 


IN  THE  TWILIGHT 


SONG 


The  evening’s  splendor  lights  her  face, 
Shading  with  gold  her  sun-kist  hair, 

It  falls  on  pearly  folds  of  lace 

And  all  the  sweetness  nestled  there. 

I thought  her  exquisite  by  day, 

Yet,  in  these  waning  shades  of  light, 
When  twilight  embers  fade  to  gray, 

She  seems  more  beautiful  at  night. 

Dear  love,  the  darkness  veils  the  land, 
Softly  the  vesper  sparrow  sings, 

And  while  I hold  thy  gentle  hand 

I would  not  change  my  place  with  kings ! 

31 


LANDING  AT  APPLEDORE 


A SONG  OF  SPRING 


The  rapture  in  the  thrush’s  song 
A golden  thought  of  summer  brings, 
Of  love  and  hope,  while  days  grow  long 
Woven  with  the  sweet  whir  of  wings! 

Sparrows  are  piping  in  the  hedge, 

Roses  their  darling  buds  unfold, 

And  splendid,  at  my  garden’s  edge, 

The  yellow  jonquils  spill  their  gold! 

Dearest,  I cannot  fold  despair 

When  every  joy  on  earth  draws  near, 
This  music  in  the  radiant  air 

Sings  in  my  song  “ I love  you  dear” 
33 


APPLEDORE 


SONG 


Listen,  my  sweet,  the  robins  call! 

Through  melting  haze  the  bluebird  flies, 
Pansies  beside  my  garden  wall 
Look  up  to  heaven  in  thine  eyes. 

From  far-off  fragrant  fields  there  blows 
The  south  wind’s  exquisite  caress, 

It  whispers  with  the  radiant  rose 
Of  thy  diviner  loveliness. 

Oh,  thou  art  sweet  as  morning  air 
When  heralds  of  the  smiling  spring 
Spread  their  bright  banners  everywhere, 
And  wild  with  joy  the  robins  sing! 

35 


ISLES  OF  SHOALS  COAST  GUARD 


SOUTHERN  SONG 


The  peach  trees  are  blooming,  the  air  is 
divine, 

And  sweetly  the  mocking  birds  sing! 

Red  roses  are  swaying  in  softest  sunshine, 

All  nature  is  greeting  the  spring. 

Yet,  something  more  fair,  in  this  beautiful 
land, 

I find  in  my  fond  heart  to-day, 

This  dear  Southern  lassie,  I hold  by  the 
hand, 

Is  sweeter  than  blossoms  of  May ! 

I love  thee  brave  Southland,  thou  home  of 
the  rose, 

Thy  mocking  bird’s  chorus  of  pride, 

This  fragrance  of  heaven  that  over  thee 
blows, 

But  dearer  the  girl  at  my  side. 

37 


MARY,  CEDRIC  LAIGHTON’S  GRANDCHILD 


SONG 


Will  you  love  me,  Mary  dear? 
Keep  your  answer  for  awhile, 
Wait  until  your  lips  can  smile 
And  this  frown  shall  disappear. 

Mary’s  face  is  sweet  and  fair, 

Yet  my  courage  seems  to  flee 
When  she  turns  her  eyes  on  me 
Through  the  tangles  of  her  hair. 

Answer  me,  dear  love,  to-day 
While  I fold  your  hands  in  mine 
Closer  still,  as  warm  sunshine 
Woos  the  precious  buds  of  May! 

39 


(Slfre  iHitierfifiDe 

CAMBRIDGE  . MASSACHUSETTS 
U . S , A 


DATE  DUE 


DEMCO,  INC.  38-2931 


